Electronic totalizer



Sept. 26, 1950 P E 2,523,516

ELECTRONIC TOTALIZER Filed June 14, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1-9 SOURCEFIVE- DECADE OF PULSE S COUNTER NICKELS OGENER'ATOR 1'40 DOCJARS 1-1 ANOcE Ts I STORAGE 0 1-11 BIN FIGJ. 1-5

214 21 souiacg 2-7 2-23 2-24\ OF 5 PENNY PENNIES PULSE c COUNTERGENERATOR a 2-25 2-26 2-21 2-49 1 I J 2-2 I 1 n... 245

V11 sOuRcE H 1 k b 1 OF I I F|vE- c 0 TOTAL NICKELS PULSE O N'CKEL VALUEGENERATOR COUNTER cOuNTER I 1 a 2-48] "2 4e I 2-41 2-42 SOURCE 2-9 1 OF1% TEN 2 244x 2-38 C DIMES .0 PULSE c :1 0M:

2-36 GENERATOR S COUNTER 2-39 FIGZ.

, INVENTOR.

- JOHN T. POTTER QWMM ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1950 J. T. POTTER 2,523,516

ELECTRONIC TOTALIZER Filed June 14, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 3-1 FIRST 3,5DECAD-E COUNTER SOURCE FIVE- 44 1ST. 2ND. 3RD. 4TH. sEcoNo- 1 PULSE 1SOURCE VGENERATORO 3-8 3-15 3'3 3'13 0 0 1' I 3"9\ THIRD 3 SOURCE- 3-103-41 3-11 F'VE 3-21 FOURTH. PULSE SOURCE GENERATORC C C i 7-14 FIG.7

BIN

INVENTOR.

JOHN T. POTTER A TTORJVE) ndE 2. mg? mzo J. T. POTTER ELECTRONICTOTALIZER e Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 26, 1950 Filed June-l4, 1947 mm own.rDO WMWJDn. m E A AT T ORNE 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. T. POTTER ELECTRONICTOTALIZER Sept. 26, 1950 Filed June 14, 1947 INVENTOR.

JOHN T. POTTER W z/ W ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1950 J. T. POTTER ELECTRONICTOTALIZER Fil'ed June 14, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 UZ DWw PuxUC.

INVENTOR.

JOHN T. POTTER Y E N m T A i atent ed Sept. 26, 1956 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,523,516 ELECTRONIC TOTALI ZER John T. Potter, New York,N. Y. Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,635

Claims. (Cl. 23592) The present invention concerns electronic machinesfor integrating and, in particular, devices and machines for totalizingor integrating certain types of functions.

There are many devices available capable of totalizing or integrating.The planimeter is an example of a mechanical integrator. No matter howprecisely it may be constructed it cannot give an absolutely accuratereading. An adding machine is an example of a totalizer capable ofadding in absolute terms a large number of different values. It,however, can add only one quantity to the total of any given instantSome integrators, such as Watt-hour meter, are capable of adding a largenumber of quantities simulta neously but here again the result is not inabsolute terms.

The present invention concerns totalizers or integrators in which atleast some of the functions are performed by electronic means and which,when applied to certain types of problems, give absolute answers. Thedevices and machines of the present invention are capable of totalizinga large number of unit quantities, objects, or occurrences up to theacceptance rate per unit time of the machine Whether discrete orsimultaneous. Quantities having a number of predetermined values mayalso be totalized or integrated. Since some or all of the functions ofthe machines may be electronic, rates of count of over one million asecond may be attained.

The generalized system of the present invention includes four majorelectronic devices. Various numbers of the individual devices combinedin a wide variety of ways are capable of solving many problems. Otherproblems may be solved by combinations of one or more of one, two, orthree of the essential devices. The four essential devices are asfollows:

1. Electronic counters.

2. Electronic pulse generators.

3. Electronic scanners.

4. Electronic time delay, lock out and resets.

The totalizing or integrating systems which may be set up of variouscombinations of these major units are all characterized by high speedcountin capabilities, flexibility, and results in absolute numbers.

Three types of counting may be performed by machines described in twocopending patent applications of John T. Potter one entitled Counters,filed November 13, 1943, and bearing Serial Number 510,229 and the otherentitled Predetermined Electronic Counter, filed March stages aresuccessively energized.

27, 1946, and bearing Serial Number 657,581. The first of the abovementioned cases discloses a binary counter in which each unit comprisingfour stages counts to sixteen. This case also discloses counting by tensor other factor by reading out part of the sixteen count. By reading sixout of each unit a multiple unit decade counter conforming to thedecimal system of counting is shown. In the predetermined counterdisclosed in the second of the above mentioned applications a countercapable of counting to some predetermined number, say 1000, is preset toread out some number, say 800, and will then count to the differencebetween 809 and 1000 or 200 and repeat, give a signal at each repeatpoint or perform other functions. Any one of these three types ofcounters may be utilized in the novel combinations of the presentinvention.

The second major device which is used in some of the combinations of thepresent invention is the electronic pulse generator. The function of thepulse generator is to provide a predetermined number of output pulsesfor each input pulse received. In this way single pulses from varioussources may be weighted. It may be required, for instance, to givepulses from one source a relative value of two, from another five andanother ten. In order to totalize the weighted values from these sourcesthe pulses from the first source are applied to a pulse generatorsending out two pulses for each one received, from the second to a fivepulse generator and from the third to a ten pulse generator. The totalcount is a count of the sum of the output pulses from all the pulsegenerators. The combination of a counter and a number of pulsegenerators will give a total count of various Weighted operations and isparticularly applicable Where the operations of various sources are notsimultaneous. This combination may also be used for limited simultaneousoperations or occurrences if some form of lock-out may be employed sothat one operation prevents another during a counting interval.

Where simultaneous operations or occurrences are to be counted theelectronic scanner may be employed. This is a device which searches thedevices the operations of which are to be counted and sends out a pulsewhen a given operation or occurrence is detected. A scanner stage isprovided for each device to be monitored and the When an operation hastaken place in a given device between the energizing cycles, the scannerstage detects it and passes a pulse to a counter. A

3 large number of devices can be monitored in this way and a largenumber of simultaneous operations counted. This combination isparticularly applicable where a simple lock-out may be employed toprevent occurrences to be counted from taking place during the scanningcycle.

The electronic time delay and reset is a device which may be used toprovide a waitin interval in a sequence of operations, for resettinglockouts and other devices and for initiating a scanning cycle. Itsprimary application is in conjunction with a scanner countingsimultaneous operations with lock-out provisions. At the end of thescanning cycle a pulse is fed to this device. This pulse is held in atime delay circuit while the look-out devices are released to permitfurther operations or occurrences and such other operations as may berequired in a particular system to take place. When the system is incondition for another scanning cycle this device may operate thelook-out devices and it then starts the scanning cycle by sending aninitiating pulse to the scanner.

Fig. 1 shows the combination of a five pulse generator and a decadecounter. A source of objects to be evaluated may be, for example, theSource of Nickels II. This source may be any source of nickels as, forinstance, a minting machine or a subway turnstile. The nickels [-3 areejected from the source down a chute I 2 to a Storage Bin I5. At somepoint in their passage from the source to the bin a device is providedfor detecting the passage of each nickel as, for instance, contactor l4.Thus at the passage of each nickel down the chute a circuit is closedbetween common lead [-1 and contactor lead I6 and these leads areconnected to the input of a pulse generator representing unit value orunit weight such as Five-Pulse Generator l8. This pulse generator, whichwill be shown and described in detail below. generates five pulses eachtime contact |4 detects the passage of a nickel. These five pulses willthen represent the value in cents of the nickels passing downchute l2.The pulses from generator !8 are applied to Decade Counter Ill whichcounts and indicates the total of all pulses received as described inthe above mentioned patent application. The total count or indication oncounter l-ll will be the dollars and cents value of all the nickelswhich have entered storage bin I5. Obviously source l--l may be a sourceof any objects to be evaluated and pulse generator l8 may generate anydesired number of pulses to represent the value or weight of eachobject. Counter l-H will show the total value, weight, etc., of allobjects issued by the source and passed to the storage bin. This is anexample of a system for integrating or totalizing a large number ofobjects in which each object is given a weighted value so that the totalindicated has significance without computation. The significance of thisprocedure becomes particularly apparent in a system embodying severalunits for counting objects of different denominations.

Fig. 2 shows the combination of several pulse generators of differentdenominations and several counters for indicating partial and grandtotals. High speed simultaneous counting is made possible by the use ofa plurality of synchronized and dephased mechanical gates. Three sourcesof objects to be given different weighted values are shown as Source ofPennies 2l, Source of Nickels 22 and Source of Dimes 23. Pennies 21 fromsource 2l travel down a chute 24 to a mechanical gate consisting of aslot 2--l5 in rotating disk 210. This disk 210 is rotated at anysuitable speed by motor 2l4 through shaft 2-13. As disk 210 rotates itpicks up a penny from chute 2--4 if a penny has come down since theprevious revolution. Disk 2I0 carries the penny around and past adetector such as contact 2l8. If slot 2--|5 carries a penny a circuit isclosed between detector contact 218 and common contact 220 therebyshorting the input to One-Pulse Generator 223 over leads 2l9 and 2--2I.Shorting the input to pulse generator 223 causes it to generate onepulse representing the weighted value of the penny. This single pulse ispassed to Penny Counter" 226 over leads 224 and 225 where it registersone count. Thus the penny counter 226 adds and indicates the dollars andcents value of all pennies issued from Source 2l. After the pennies passthe detector contact 2[8 they are dropped in a convenient collectingmeans such as Penny Bin 2--2l In a similar manner the weighted value ofobjects from a second source such as Source of Nickels 22 is totallzed.Nickels 28 from Source 22 pass down a chute 25 to slot 2-|6 in thesecond disk 2I I. This second disk 2l l is rotated in synchronism anddephased with respect to disk 2l0 in any convenient manner as by turningfrom the same shaft 2l3 but with slot 2-I6 turned degrees with respectto slot 2-| 5. The nickels carried by slot 2-l 6 pass detector contact228 and in cooperation with common contact 230 close the circuit overwires 2--29 and 23I to the input to Five-Pulse Generator 232. Each timethis circuit is closed at the passage of a nickel five pulses aregenerated representing the weighted value of the nickel and these fivepulses are passed to the Nickel Counter 235 over leads 233 and 234. Thiscounter adds each count received and therefore shows a total in dollarsand cents of all nickels issued from source 22,

A third source of objects to be counted is shown in the Source of Dimes23. Dimes 29 from source 23 pass along chute 26 to disk 2l2. Disk 2-l2has a slot 2ll advanced by 90 degrees from slot 2l6 and it also turns insynchronism with disks 2l0 and 2H by being mounted on the common shaft213. The dimes are counted by contacts 236 and 23'! closing circuitwires 238 and 239 to Ten-Pulse Generator 2-4|. Pulse generator 24!generates ten pulses for each dime passing contact 2-3B, which pulsesare passed to Dime Counter 244 over leads 242 and 243. Thus the dimecounter 244 adds and shows the total dollars and cents value of alldimes issued from source 23.

In addition to the individual counters 226, 235 and 244 a grand totaltotalizer consisting of Total Value Counter 2-45 is employed. Theoutputs from pulse generators 223, 232 and 24l are fed to counter 245over common lead 247 and non-common leads 249, 246 and 248 respectively.This total counter counts the sum of all the pulses representing thepennies, nickels and dimes and shows a grand total value of all indollars and cents. It will be seen that, by the use of the synchronousbut dephased mechanism at the point where the coins of the variousdenominations are detected, the sources themselves may issue coinssimultaneously and that the true and weighted count will be maintained.

Thus Fig. 2 shows a form of the invention in which the issue fromseveral sources of different denominations is added for totals of eachdenomination and a total for all denominations. The combination includescounters, pulse generators and synchronous dephased detecting means.Obviously a wide range of objects of different values, weights, etc.,may be totalized in this manner.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of totalizer in which some of the pulsegenerators are eliminated by a modified connection to the decadecounter. Four sources of difierent denominations are shownl The FirstSource 3-l issues objects to be given a value of one. The blocks 3-l,3-2, 3-3 and 3-4 represent the sources of the objects to be totalized orintegrated including suitable detector devices which initiate suitableactuating signals over leads 3-5, 3-6, 3-1, 3-8, 3-9, 3-), 3-H and 3-Hwherein each signal indicates one object. Leads 3-5 and 3-6 from thefirst source 3-1 are connected to the first decade 3-! G of the DecadeCounter so that each object issued by source 3-l adds one to the totalcount. The Second Source 3-2 issues objects with a relative value orWeight of five and the detector leads 3-! and 3-8 are connected to theinput of .Five Plus Generator 3-13 so that five pulses are generated foreach object issued. The output of generator 3-i3 is connected to firstdecade 3-I6 by means of leads 3-H and 3-H so that each object issued bysource 3-2 adds five to the total count. The Third Source 3-3 issues objects having relative weight or value of ten each. The output of thethird source detector is applied by means of leads 3-9 and 3-H! to thesecond decade 3-1 1 of the Decade Counter, since at this point eachsignal or pulse adds ten to the total. This connection eliminates theneed for a pulse generator. The Fourth Source 3-4 issues objects havinga relative value or weight of five hundred each. The detector outputfrom Source 3-4 is applied over leads 3-H and 3-!2 to Five PulseGenerator 3-20 which generates five pulses for each object issued bysource 3-4.

The output pulses from generator 3-20 are applied to the input to thethird decade 3-l8 of the Decade Counter by means of leads 3-H and 3-22.At this point each pulse adds one hundred to the total count and sincefive pulses are generated for each object issued by source 3-4 a countof five hundred is added to the total count for each object issued by3-4. Thus by applying the signals representing objects issued to variouspoints of the decade counter and by using pulse generators at otherpoints a wide range of values may be counted in a simple manner.

Fig. 4 shows, in block diagram. a complete system according to thepresent invention involving several sources of each of twodenominations, scanners, pulse generators for two denom inations,partial adders for the two denominations, a total adder and a timedelay, look-out and reset control unit. This is a non-synchronizedsystem in which operation of any of the sources may be accomplishedduring the time delay interv .val. During the very brief scanninginterval the sources are locked out. At the end of each scanning cyclethe reset control resets each source so that it may be operated again.The particular combination shown is for purposes of illustration sinceit will be evident that the invention is in no way limited to a specificnumber of component units or particular arrangement. f Fig. 4 showssource I of the denomination 5 at 4-l, source 2 of denomination 5 at4-2, source 3 of denomination 5 at 4-3, source I of denomination H1 at4-4, source 2 of denomination ID at 4-5 and source 3 of denomination Inat 4-6. The operations of all three sources of denomination 5 are to beadded in one partial adder and hence first scanner 4-! is provided forthese sources. Sources I through 3 of denomination 5 are connected tofirst scanner 4-'! by means of leads 4-l5 through 4-20. Since thedenomination is 5, a five-pulse generator 4-9 is connected to scanner4-1 by means of leads 4-21 and 4-28. The output pulses from pulsegenerator 4-9 are applied to partial adder for the 5 denomination 4-8 bymeans of leads 4-3! and 4-32. Since the grand total is to be found, theoutput of pulse generator 4-9 is also fed to total adder for alldenominations 4-l4 over leads 4-33 and 4-34 through buffer 4-5'I. In asimilar manner the three sources 4-4, 4-5 and 4-6 of denomination l0 areprovided. For these sources of denomination ID the second scanner 4-[0is provided connected to the sources by leads 4-2l through 4-26. Sincethe denomination is In, a ten-pulse generator 4-l2 is provided connectedto scanner 4-[0 by means of leads 4-35 and 4-35. The output of pulsegenerator 4-I2 is fed to the partial adder for denomination It! at 4-Hover leads 4-31 and 4-38. In order to show the operations from thesources of denomination ID on the total adder 4-I4 the output of pulsegenerator 4-l2 is also connected to total adder 4-l4 by means of leads4-39 and 4-40 through buffer 4-5!.

Atthis point the partial operation of the equipment may be followed. Thevarious Sources may be taken to represent any devices the operations ofwhich are to be totalized. The denominations represent the relativeweighted value to be assigned to each source. For instance, source I ofdenomination 5 may represent a coin machine receiving nickels, anautomatic screw machine turning out parts containing 5 ounces of copper,a machine turning out parts used in a total assembly where the relativenumber of these parts is 5, or any operation of making, counting,sorting, etc., requiring a relative weighted count of 5 toward the grandtotal. It is assumed that at the start of each scanning cycle theoperations to be counted have been completed and each source is incondition for the count. Assuming that operations have taken place insource I and 3 of denomination 5 and source 2 of denomination In priorto the start of the scanning cycle to be described. The first scannerstarts its scanning cycle and scans in order sources I, 2 and 3 ofdenomination 5. Since source I has been operated it detects this 9operation which passes a pulse to pulse generator 4-9. Pulse generator4-9 generates 5 pulses indicating one operation of a source ofdenomination 5 and these 5 pulses are counted by both partial adder 4-8and total adder 4-l4 adding 5 to the totals shown by these adders. Firstscanner 4'! continues the scanning operation and finding source 2 innon-operated condition passes over it Without generating a pulse. Atsource 3 another pulse is generated due to its operated condition and 5pulses are added to the totals. First scanner 4-'! having scanned itsassociated sources passes the scanning pulse to second scanner 4-lllover leads 4-29 and 4-30. This initiates a scanning cycle in scanner4-l0 which scans sources 4-4, 4-5 and 4-6 in turn. Since source 4-4 isin nonin the predetermined counter.

7 operated condition the scanning pulse passe to source 4--5. Source 4-5has been assumed to be in operated condition and hence a pulseindicating this fact is passed to pulse generator 4l2 thereby initiating10 pulses which are added to the totals of adders 4l l and 4|4. Thescanning of scanner 4l0 continues to source 4-6 which being innon-operated condition causes the pulse to pass to the Scanner output.The scanning cycle has now been described from the start of a scanningpulse in the first scanner until it arrives at the output of the secondscanner. During the scanning cycle two of the 5 denomination sourceswere found to have been operated and the resulting action in the pulsegenerator and adders was to add a count of to the count of the partialadder for denomination 5 and 10 to the count of the total adder for alldenominations. Also during this scanning cycle one of the 10denomination sources was found to have been operated and this resultedin adding 10 to the count of the denomination l0 adder and 10 to thetotal adder. Thus in the complete scanning cycle 10 was added to thecount each of the partial adders and was added to the count of the totaladder. With a large number of sources and denominations a wide varietyof partial totals as well as the grand total may be obtained dependingupon requirements.

The second half of the cycle operation of the system shown in Fig. 4 isdetermined by time delay, lock out and reset control unit 4I3. At theend of the scanning cycle a pulse is sent out from the last scanner inthe scanner chain. 3

In this case the pulse appears at the output of scanner 4 l0 and isapplied over leads 44l and 4-42 to time delay unit ll3. This pulse isdelayed in unit 4-43 for a predetermined period of time. This unit 4-I3includes a lock out circuit over leads 4-43 and 4-44 to sources 4-!through 4-S over branch circuits 0-45 through 4-56 which operates toprevent operation of any of the sources during the scanning cycle. Whenthe pulse from the last scanner is received by unit 4-1.3, this lock outis removed permitting further operating of the sources. The sources arealso reset so that the operations which have been counted will not becounted again. When the pulse has been delayed long enough to permitresetting and further operations of the sources, it is utilized to againset the lock out and to send a pulse to the input of the first scanner4-! over leads 459 and 458 to initiate another scanning cycle. completedand a new scanning cycle is started. In general, the scanning portion ofthe complete cycle is so short that the system is apparently incondition for operation of any of the sources at all times.

Fig. 5 shows the complete circuit of a pulse generator suitable for usein the combinations of the present invention. The pulse generator shownincludes a switching tube 5l, a buffer tube 521, an oscillator tube 54!and a threetube predetermined counter made up of tubes 555, 5-73 and5-90. The purpose of this pulse generator is to issue a predeterminednumber of pulses for each pulse received. In the particular circuitshown five pulses are generated for each input pulse. Briefly, the inputpulse operates switch tube 5l which turns on the oscillator tube 54! andpresets a countof three The predeter- Thus the cycle of operation hasbeen mined counter has three stages normally count ing eight and, hence,when preset to three, counts the balance or five. At the count of fivepulses from the oscillator the counter sends out a pulse which turns theswitch tube off, stopping the oscillator. The five pulses from theoscillator are passed to the output for utilization.

Switch tube 5l is a double triode with cathodes 5-2 and 55 heated byconventional means not shown, control grids 53 and 56 and plates 54 and51. Plates 54 and 51 are energized from a suitable source such asbattery 5 I06 over lead 520 and through load resistors 59 and 58respectively. Plate 54 is connected to the negative end of battery 5l06through resistors 510, 515 and 5--|'l all in series. Plate 5'! isconnected to the negative end of battery 5l 06 through resistors 5--|2,5- IB and 5[1 all in series. Typical resistor values are 59 and 58 equalto 39,000 ohms each, 5- l0 and 5-l2 equal to 100,000 ohms each, 5--I5and 5l6 equal to 47,000 ohms each and 5l1 equal to 100,000 ohms.Resistor 5-l0 is shunted by capacitor 5H and resistor 5-l2 by capacitor5l3 each having a value of the order of 500 micro-microfarads. Grid 56is connected to the point where resistor 5l 0 joins resistor 5 l5 andgrid 53 is connected to the common point of resistors 5l2 and 5l6. Thisswitch or flipflop circuit can assume two conditions. In one conditionplate 54 draws substantial current and plate 5--? is substantiallycut-01f. The second condition results when plate 5'! draws substantialcurrent and plate 54 is cut-off. Capacitors 5-l l and 5l3 together Withthe resistors cause the current to shift from whichever plate it isflowing in to the other plate upon receipt of an actuating pulse.Initially plate 5--| draws current, depressing its voltage due to theplate current voltage drop in plate resistor 58. Upon receipt of aninput pulse through coupling capacitor 5--l8 over lead 5l9 to thejunction between resistors 5l2 and 5-l6 the current is shifted to plate54 and the voltage of plate 51 rises. This energizes oscillator 541, aswill be described in detail below, and starts the generation of pulses.When the required number of pulses has been generated, a pulse from thecounter over lead 540 across resistor 5l1 turns the switch tube back toits intial condition and stops the oscillator.

The oscillator is not limited to the form shown but the R.-C. oscillatorshown is particularly suitable since its amplitude may be suddenlychanged without generating transients. Oscillator tube 541 is a doubletriode including cathodes 5-42 and 5-45 heated by conventional means notshown, control grids 5-43 and 546, and plates 544 and 541. Plate 5--44is connected to load resistor 5-48 and plate 541 to load resistor 549.Cathodes 545 and 5-42 are connected together and through the commoncathode resistor 552 to point 5l0! on plate supply battery 5106. Plate5-44 is connected to grid 546 by means of phase control capacitor 554and grid 5-45 is connected to cathode 5- 45 through resistor 553.Resistor 550 in series with neon lamp 55! is connected from the platevoltage supply point to the cathode return point, so that the neon lamplights whenever the oscillator is energized. While the oscillatorIrequency may be chosen to suit a particular application, the circuitherein being described is designed to oscillate at about 1000 cycles.This frequency is obtained with resistor 548 equal to 39,000 ohms,resistor 5-49 equal to 39,000 ohms, resistor 5-52 equal to 2200 ohms,resistor 5-53 equal to 100,000 ohms and capacitor 5-54 equal to 1000micro-microfarads. Glow lamp 5-5l in Series with resistor 5-50 connectedbetween grid 5-43 and cathode 5-24 will ive an indication when theoscillator is in operation.

The oscillator is turned on by the input pulse. A predetermined countercomprising tubes 5-55, 5-13 and 5-90 is set to count the desired numberof pulses from the oscillator, in this case five, and then turns theoscillator oif. The predetermined counters comprising tubes 5-55, 5-13and 5-90 is connected to form a binary counter. The first counter stageincludes the double triode vacuum tube 5-55 having plates 5-63 and 5-6l,control grids 5-62 and 5-60, and cathodes 5- 58 and 5-59 the latterbeing heated by conventional means not shown. Plates 5-63 and 5-6I areconnected through resistors 5-64 and 5-65 to the positive side ofbattery 5-106 and through resistors 5-56 and 5-10 shunted by condensers5-51 and 5-'H to grids 5-60 and 5-62 respectively. Grids 5-60 and 5-62are returned through grid resistors 5-66 and 5-69 and common gridresistor 5-68 to the negative end of plate supply battery 5-I 06. Thesecond stage of the counter is similar to the first, employing doubletriode 5-13 with plates 5-16 and 5-11, control grids 5-15 and 5-18, andcathodes 5-14 and 5-19. This stage is connected as.was the first stage,utilizing plate resistors 5-8! and 5- 80, plate to grid circuitresistors 5-82 and 5-88 shunted by condensers 5-83 and5-89, gridresistors 5-84 and 5-81 and common grid resistor 5-86. The third stage,comprising double triode 5-90 having plates 5-93 and 5-94, control grids5-92 and 5-95. and cathodes 5-9l and 5-96. is similarly connected tocircuit elements including plate resistors 5-98 and 5-91, plate to gridcircuit resistors 5-99 and 5-l04 shunted by condensers 5-l00 and 5-l05,grid resistors 5-l0l and 5--|03 and common grid resistor 5-l02. Stageone of the counter is connected to stage two by means of couplingcondenser 5-l09 connected between grid 5-62 and the high side of thesecond stage common grid resistor 5-86. Similarly stage two is coupledto stage three by means of coupling condenser 5-H0 connected betweengrid 5-15 and the high side of the third stage common grid resistor5-l02. Thus, connected, this three stage binary counter would normallycount two in the first stage, four in the secnd stage and a total ofeight in the third stage.

Hence, if the oscillator output is fed through coupling condenser -l I3into stage one of the counter, one pulse will be applied to outputcoupling condenser 5-l08 when the eighth oscillator pulse is receivedand counted. However, it is desired, to count to five and this isaccomplished by coupling the switching tube 5-l to grid 5-18 throughbranch resistor 5-65 and to grid 5-60 through resistor 5-61, so that acount of three is preset by the actuating pulse causing it to count theremainder of the count of eight or the desired count of five. At thecount of five the output pulse of the counter passes through couplingcondenser 5-l08 to the high side of the common rid resistor 5-I1 of theelectronic switch tube 5-l, turning the switch to the off position andstopping oscillator 5-4l. The buffer tube 5-21 serves two functions. Itsleft side elements 5-23, 5-24 and 5-26 responding to the switching tube5-l gates plate voltage to oscillator tube 5-4! to turn the oscillatoron or off. Its right side elements 5-28, 5-29 and 5-I4 i form a bufferamplifier for the oscillator output feeding both the counter and theoutput of the pulse generator itself through condensers 5-l33 and 5-32respectively. This circuit that has just been described, therefore,generates an output consisting of five pulses at condenser 5-32 for eachsingle input pulse received through input condenser 5-l8. The initialcondition of the electronic switch and counter stages may be reset bypressing reset button 5-l| 2 opening contact 5-lll thereby establishingthe left side of these circuits as the minimum current side.

The pulse generator which has been shown in Fig. 5 and above describedmay evidently be used wherever pulse generators are designated in theother figures of the drawing. Any desired number of pulses may begenerated for each input pulse merely by setting the predeterminedcounter to the proper count. The predetermined counter may have only onestage in which case it will count two providing a two pulse generator.Two stages will count three by presetting a count of one and will countfour without modification. A three stage counter will count up to eightand a four stage counter will count up to sixteen. Ten pulse generatorsor any multiple of ten may be constructed utilizing decade counters,that is, binary counters modified to count ten.

To summarize the operation of the pulse generator the actuating pulseflips an electronic switch which turns on an oscillator through themedium of a cathode follower stage. A predetermined counter counts theoscillator pulses which are fed to the output and at a predeterminedcount flips the electronic switch in the opposite direction turning theoscillator off.

Fig. 6 shows a circuit of one form of Time Delay, Lock Out and ResetControl according to the present invention. This unit receives anactuating pulse from the output of the last scanner stage in the system.This pulse is delayed while various relays or other electro-mechanicaldevices are operated directly or indirectly from this unit. When all therelay and resetting functions have been performed. a pulse is initiatedand fed to the input of the first scanner stage for initiating a newscanning cycle.

Fig. 6 shows in detail an electronic switch tube 6-!, coupling andcontrol tube 6-2 and thyratron tube 6-3. Electronic switch tube 6-lincludes cathode 6-4 heated by conventional means not shown, controlgrid 6-5 and plate 6- 6 forming one triode, and cathode 6-1 heated byconventional means not shown, control grid 6- 8 and plate 6-9 forming asecond triode. These two triodes are connected to form an electronicswitch by connecting plate 6-6 through resistor 6-10 to a source ofplate voltage 6-68, and through resistor 6-l'l in series with resistor6- l9 to the negative end of voltage source 6-68. Resistor 6-l1 isshunted by a capacitor 6-I8 and grid 6-8 is connected to the junctionbetween resistors 6-l1 and 6-I9. Plate 6-9 is connected to the platevoltage source 6-68 through resistor 6-H and to the negative side ofvoltage source 6-68 through resistors 6-l4 and 6-I5 connected in series.Grid 6-5 is connected to the junction between resistors 6-I4 and 6-l5.Cathodes 6-4 and 6-1 are connected overlead 6-l6 to an intermediatepoint on voltage source 6-68. This switch will be considered oiT whenplate 6-9 is drawing the greater current of the two plates. Neon1amp6-l3 connected through current limiting resistor 6-[2 between plate6-9 and cathode 6-1 will indicate the on condition.

At the completion of a scanning cycle, a pulse will appear at the outputof the scanner 6-1! and is applied over lead 6-13, through resistor 6-36and capacitor 6-28 to grid 6-5. This pulse. turns the electronic switchon by transferring the greater plate current flow to plate 6-6 andlights neon 6-l3. The pulse from the scanner output is also appliedthrough resistor 6-26 to grid 6-36 of the double triode control tube6-2. Due to the pulse on grid 6-36, plate 6-31 draws current energizingrelay coils 6-39, 6-46 and 6-4l through resistor 6-38 to voltage source6-68. Cathodes 6-32 and 6-35 of control tube 6-2 are connected to anintermediate point on voltage source 6-68. The energizing of the relaycoils pulls armatures 6-42, 6-45 and 6-48 to the up position as shownopening contacts 6-44 and 6-41 and closing contact 6-49. The circuitformed from lead 6-53 through contact 6-44 and 6-42 to lead 6-54 may beutilized for any resetting or control purpose to be initiated at the endof the scanning period such as resetting the switches and counters inthe pulse generator or generators. One such point would be at -l I2 inFig. 5. For automatic resetting switch 5-l l2 and the switch formed bycontacts 6-55, 6-56 and 6-51 are left open. The opening of contact 6-41to 6-45 opens the plate supply circuit of thyratron 6-3 causing it todeionize. The closing of contact 6-46 to 6-46 connects a suitablevoltage source such as 6-14 across leads 6-5l and 6-52 which go to anydesired point for resetting and/or lock out functions. One example is toconnect leads 6-5l and 6-52 to leads 1-l3 and 1-l4 to operate theresetting and lock out device shown in Fig. '7. During a predeterminedinterval which may be designated as the on time for allowing the variousrelays in the system to close, the pulse from the scanner is delayed byresistor 6-21 connected to capacitor 6-3l. By proper choice of resistor6-21 and capacitor 6-3! values, the rate at which the voltage acrosscapacitor 6-3l builds up may be controlled. When this voltage reaches acertain point grid 6-33 which is connected to the junction betweencapacitor 6-3l and resistor 6-21 allows current to flow to plate 6-34from cathode 6-32. This flow of current to plate 6-34 drops the voltageon plate 6-9 of the electronic switch and causes the switch to go oil.This drop in voltage of plate 6-34 also lowers the voltage at grid 6-36through resistors 6-l4 and 6-26, causing the current to plate 6-31 todecrease deenergizing relay coils 6-39, 6-40 and 6-4l. Armatures 6-42,6-45 and 6-48 then drop to their lower positions closing contacts 6-44and 6-41 and opening contact 6-49. Closing contact 6-41 energizes plate6-6l of thyratron 6-3 through resistors 6-62 and 6-63 from voltagesource 6-68. This places thyratron 6-3 in condition for firing.

The time delay period now to be described may be termed the off timesince its purpose is to allow the relays and associated devices todeenergize and return to their initial positions The turning off of theelectronic switch 6-! which has been described above initiates the offtime. period. When this switch goes off the voltage of plate 6-6 risessuddenly and the resulting pulse is fed through resistor 6-61 to controlgrid 6-59 of thyratron 6-3. The time required for grid 6-59 to rise tothe ignition point is predetermined by the selection of series resistor6-61 and shunt capacitor 6-66. This is the time delay period abovedesignated as off time. When thyratron 6-3 fires, the charge stored incapacitor 6-64 is discharged through resistor 6-63, the thyratron fromplate 6 6| to cathode 6-58 and resistor 6-55. The resulting pulse acrossresistor 6-65 is applied over lead 6-16 to the input to scanner [5-H andthereby initiates a new scanning cycle.

If, for any reason, it is desired to stop the scanning process contacts6-20 and 6-22 may be shorted either by button 6-2l or from a remotepoint over lead 6-23 which drops the voltage on plate 6-6 and preventsthe operation of the electronic switch. I

Fig. '7 shows one form of lock out and reset device according to thepresent invention. While the particular form which the lock out andreset device will assume depends on the particular application involved,the form shown in Fig. 7 is particularly adapted to a coin countingmachine. Coins such as 1-2 and 1-3 are fed to the device in a suitablemanner as by means of chute 1-l. Slotted disc 1-6 is adapted to rotateone-quarter revolution each time solenoid 1-l2 is energized pullingplunger 1-H upward against projection 1-l6 on disc 1-6. Leads 1-l3 and1-l4 serve to connect solenoid 1-I2 to the time delay, lock out andreset control unit such as 4-l3 of Fig. 4. When disc 1-6 is moved uponthe energizing of solenoid 1-12, which takes place during the time delayinterval oreviously described, a coin, if present at position 1-4 ismoved to position 1-5. At position 1-5 the coin closes the circuitbetween lead 1-1 and contact 1-8. This circuit is connected to a scanneras described above causing a count to be registered. Plunger 1-I lremains down during the scanning part of the cycle and the stationaryposition of disc 1-6 effectively looks out coins from reaching thecounting postion at -5. The operation of plunger 1-H resets the deviceby bringing an empty slot in disc 1-6 into position under chute 1-!. Atthe end of the scanning part of the cycle, the coin which was atposition 1-5 for counting is dumped into a suitable receptacle such asbin 1-3. It will be seen that this device performs several functions. Itresets upon the operation of plunger 'l-H, It locks out coins during thescanning part of the cycle. It does not require synchronous operationsince it will count all coins entering chute l-l as long as the averagerate of counting exceeds the average rate at which coins are received bychute 1-l.

Fig. 8 shows the details of one form of scanner stage used in atotalizing system the remainder of which is shown in block diagramaccording to the present invention. While only a single denomination isshown it will be understood that a number of denominations may behandled for each feature and that various total and partial counts maybe registered as for instance, total count for all features and alldenominations and a partial total count for each feature and alldenominations. The particular methods of connection will be evident fromthis and the other figures of the drawing. Fig. 8 shows a typicalportion of a totalizing system according to the present inventionshowing, in particular, the relation between a scanner stage and theremainder of the system. The ticket machines are designated by theletters K, L and M. Each ticket machine issues tickets of onedenomination, in this case denomination A. There is a scanner 'lead 8-51to armature contact 8-9.

stage for each ticket machine. A more detailed description of Fig. 8follows.

In Fig. 8 is shown a scanner stage including the two triodes which maybe a dual tube as shown at 8-! with cathodes 8-2 and B-3 heated byconventional means not shown, control grids 8-6 and 8-4 and plates 8-!and 8-5 and thyratron B-20 having cathode 8-2l heated by conventionalmeans not shown, control electrode 8-22, suppressor grid 8-23 and plate8-24. This scanner stage is associated with the feature N key switch8-34, 8-35 of ticket issuing machine K. When a ticket is to be issued,key 8-34, 8-35 is closed shunting resistor 8-33 which is connectedbetween cathodes 8-2 and 8-3 and ground and is in series with resistors8-30 and 8-3l and cathode 8-2I and ground with resistor 8-36. Resistor8-33 has relatively large resistance and when unshunted keeps tubes B-land 8-20 out off due to cathode current from cathodes 8-2, 8-3 and 8-2l.When key 8-34, 3-35 is closed, shunting resistor 8-33 with resistor 8-36the bias on cathodes 8-2, 8-3 and 8-2l is lowered, placing tubes 8-I and8-20 in condition to respond to the scanning pulse. As has beendescribed in connection with Fig. 6, the scanning cycle is initiated bya pulse from lockout, delay and reset unit 23-53 which passes over Ifkey 8-34, 8-35 is open, indicating that no ticket is to be issued, thispulse passes through the normally closed circuit across contacts 8-9,8-l3, 8-l l and 8-l and over lead 8-49 to the'second scanner stage 8-50.If, however, key 8-34,

8-35 is closed the voltage on cathode 8-2 is low, as set forth above,causing current to flow from plate source battery8-28 through relay coil8-8 to plate 8-1. Current in relay coil 8-8 attracts armatures 8-9 andB-IO, closing contacts 8-9, 8-[4 and 8-l0, 8-I2 so that the input pulsepasses through resistors 8-l5 and B-ll charging condenser 8-l9 toprovide a very brief time delay interval and on to control electrode8-22. This pulse on control electrode 8-22 V causes thyratron 8-20 tofire discharging condenser B-2'l through the circuit of plate 8-24 andcathode 8-2l to ground including resistors 8-25, 8-30, 13-31, 8-33 and8-38. This sudden current generates a pulse at cathode 8-2I which isapplied through capacitor 8-48 to control grid 8-4, which in turn causesa pulse of plate current to flow from plate voltage source 13- throughresistor 8-40 to plate 8-5. The resulting pulse across resistor 8-40 isapplied to the input of pulse generator 8-43. Pulse generator, as aresult generates pulses of denomination A which are passed to totaladder 8-44 for counting and adding to the grand total of all featuresand all denominations. Other scanners of the same denomination such asboxes 8-45 and 8-46 also feed pulses to pulse generator 8-43 over lead8-41 from other ticket machines. These scanners are connected in seriesbetween stage 8-50 and stage 8-5l where dotted connections are shown, sothat the entire scanning process is a chain sequence. stage is providedfor each ticket machine, they are shown in single blocks 8-45 and 8-46.Thus a corresponding block in the chain would include the first scannerstage shown in detail and ticket machine K. The firing of thyratron 8-20also generates a pulse across resistor 8-3! which is made somewhatbroader than the time of peak current by means of shunt capacitor 8-32.This pulse passes through contacts 8-l2,

Since a scanner,

8-I0 and by way of lead 8-49 to the next scanner stage 8-50 in order tocontinue the scanning sequence. The pulse also appears across resistors8-33 and 8-36 in parallel and is applied over lead 8-31 to the input ofpulse generator 8-38 which generates a number of pulses representingdenomination A of ticket machine K which are received by adder 8-39 andadded to the total for feature N of all denominations. While they arenot shown it will be understood that whatever denominations are to beadded to the total count of adder 8-39 are tied in by connecting theoutput of appropriate pulse generators to adder 8-39 in a manner whichwill be evident from other figures of the drawing. When thyratron 8-26fires plate 8-24 will have a relatively low impedance to ground and byconnecting it to ticket issuing machine K over lead 8-56 other desiredfunctions may be performed, details of which are not shown, such asreleasing a ticket or starting ticket issuing devices. It will be seenthat these functions are performed only when the scanner stage operatesso that a ticket is issued only if it is counted. Neon lamp 8-[6 maybeconnected from the junction between resistors 8-l5 and B-l'l to'limitthe received pulse to a desired value. Bias source 8-29 supplies normalcut-off bias to control electrode 3-22 through resistor 8-l8.

'When the last scanner stage 8-5l has functioned completing the scanningsequence its output pulse is fed to lock out, delay and reset 8-53 withFig. 6. The resetting pulse from unit 8-53 .is applied over leads 8-54and B-55 to perform any required resetting functions in ticket machineK, details of which are not shown. Look out functions may also beperformed which function to prevent closing key 8-34, 8-35 except duringthe time when resetting current is flowing over leads 8-54, 8-55 in anyconvenient manner, details of which are not shown.

It will be readily seen that the combinations of the present inventionhave many great advantages over system hitherto available. The scanningprocess, being electronic, may be made extremely fast. Each stage canvery readily operate in one milli-second, making possible the sequentialoperation of 500 or more stages in onehalf second. If the lock out,delay and resetting functions consume one-half second the complete cycleis performed in one second. The system thus could register operationsfrom over 500 ticket machines once every second. This is many times asfast as any practical device which has been built for similar purposesutilizing mechanical or electro-mechanical devices such as switches andrelays.

While several combinations of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in theart and within the spirit and scope of the invention set forth inparticular in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a totalizing device, the combination of, a plurality of ticketmachine sources of each of a plurality of denominations to be activated,scanning means including at least one thermionic vacuum tube coupled toeach of said sources, a plurality of means for connecting the tubescoupled to activated sources in cascade, means for passing an electricalscanning pulse through said cascaded tubes, utilization means responsiveto the presence of said scanning pulse in 15 each of said cascadedtubes, a time delay circuit for receiving said scanning pulse at thecompletion of said scanning to delay said pulse for a predeterminedinterval of time, and means for initiating another scanning pulse at theend of said interval.

2. In a totalizing device, the combination of, a plurality of ticketmachine sources of each of a plurality of denominations to be activatedfor issuing tickets, scanning means including at least one thermionicvacuum tube coupled to each of said sources, a plurality of means forconnecting the tubes coupled to activated sources in cascade, means forpassing an electrical scanning pulse through said cascaded tubes, pulsegenerators for generating pulses representing said denominationsresponsive to the presence of said scanning pulse in each of saidcascaded tubes, counters for counting the pulses from said pulsegenerators for totalizing denominational values, a time delay circuitfor receiving said scanning pulse at the completion of said scanning todelay said pulse for a predetermined interval of time, and means forinitiating another scanning pulse at the end of said interval.

3. In a totalizing device, the combination of, a plurality of ticketmachine sources to be activated for issuing tickets, scanning means including at least one thermionic vacuum tube coupled to each of saidsources, a plurality of means for connecting the tubes coupled toactivated sources in cascade, means for passing an electrical scanningpulse through said cascaded tubes, utilization means including countersfor totalizing said issued tickets responsive to the presence of saidscanning pulse in each of said cascaded tubes, a time delay circuit forreceiving said scanning pulse at the completion of said scanning todelay said pulse for a predetermined interval of time, and means forinitiating another scanning pulse at the end of said interval.

4. In a totalizing device, the combination of, a plurality of ticketmachine sources to be activated for issuing tickets, scanning meansincluding at least one thermionic vacuum tube coupled to each of saidsources, a plurality if means for connecting the tubes coupled toactivated sources in cascade, means for passing an electrical scanningpulse through said cascaded tubes, utilization means responsive to thepresence of said scanning pulse in each of said cascaded tubes, a

time delay circuit for receiving said scanning pulse at the completionof said scanning to delay said pulse for a predetermined interval oftime, means for initiating another scanning pulse at the end of saidinterval, and means coupled to said scanning means for preventing theactivation of said sources during said scanning.

5. In a totalizing device, the combination of, a plurality of ticketmachine sources to be activated for issuing tickets, scanning meansincluding at least one thermionic vacuum tube coupled to each of saidsources, a plurality of means for connecting the tubes coupled toactivated sources in cascade, means for passing an electrical scanningpulse through said cascaded tubes, utilization means including at leastone totalizing device responsive to the presence of said scanning pulsein said cascaded tubes, a time delay circuit for receiving said scanningpulse at the comple- 20 tion of said scanning to delay said pulse for apredetermined interval of time, means for initiating another scanningpulse at the end of said interval, and means coupled to said scanningmeans for preventing the activation of said sources during saidscanning.

JOHN T. POTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,744,771 Julius Jan. 28, 19301,799,784 Donnellan Apr. 7, 1931 1,932,014 Frankford Oct. 24, 19332,203,707 Thompson June 11, 1940 2,237,132 Christensen Apr. 1, 19412,262,152 Welk Nov. 11, 1941 2,332,756 Robinson Oct. 26, 1943 2,345,212Nelson Mar. 28, 1944 2,398,150 Mumma et a1 Apr. 9, 1946 2,401,729Goldsmith June 11, 1946 2,402,988 Dickinson July 2, 1946 5 2,403,873Mumma July 9, 1946 2,422,698 Miller June 24, 1947 2,484,115 Palmer et a1Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 402,083 GreatBritain Nov. 20, 193?

